Fashioning knitting-machine.



E; J. FRANCK. h. Vf M.

Patented Dec; 41(7), 1912.

v APPLICATION IEILI'ED 30, 1905.1

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PASHIONING KNHTIING MACHINE.

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APPLICATION ILHD AUG. 30. 1905.

` circular knitting machine such as is iised v for producing seamlessjhosiery with .com-' i pact, eliic1 ent and reliable means for Widen- Aiena'finiva?. oFFioE'.

EMIL J. FRANCK, or rnILADELPHIA, P ENNsrLvANIA.

.Ian- LL whom it may coa-cern:

Be' it known that l, EMinlA FRANCK, a citizen of the United States, residingI 'at Philadelphia, inthe county of Philadelphia -and St-ate of Pennsylvania, have invented cert-ain new and useful Improvements in Fashioning Knitting-lliachines, of which the following isa specication.

One object of the presentfinventionfis t o provide for increasing the diameter of a i 4knitted tube during its m'aiiufac'tiire, or more specifically to produce va seamless widened rlegas for-stockings.

Another object. of the iiiveiitionjs to pro-` vide a circular machine for producingvthe'- character' of work mentioned.

Another object of the invention is toi-cause `s:`1'id inachine to operate automatically and `to occupy a comparatively small space', a nd another object of vthe invention isto'provide ingthelegs of siicli hose.

To, these and other ends hereinafter set forth the invention comprises the improve-V ments -to' be *.claimed.

The nature," characteristicV features.' and scope-'of the invention will be more fully n ndeitood lfrom the 'following description taken 'in connection with the accompanying drawings forming 'part f hereof and f in.'

l which-- Figure 1, is a viewfta'ken incentra-l section aiid'illiistrating a machine embodyingfea? .tures of :the invention.

plan vieiv of the sinne. Fig. .3, is an .eleya- .tional view of a detail of construction, and."

Fig. 4. is a diagrammatic -vievv illustrating the needles.

'Int-lie drawings 1, may 'betaken to be the :ordinary circle 'of latch needles and 2, 'are -a set or lgroiip of what `may be called wideninediate of some of the needlcs\ .1 vand are' reci-prorated at an angle wit-l1 or inclination to the line of lrcciprocation of theneedles 1.

The .circle of needles 1, prodiice .`a vtubular tabric in the ordina-rv way and the Widenn eedles `2 are in action'the work attheperjt-ion ofthe circle' where the Widening is go.-

Specification of Letters Patent.

' their'operation -upon tlie needles -understood Vthat those skilled in the art will presently described and finally'- Fig. 2, is a ,top orlng 4needles and they' are arranged -i'nterf' fs-g 4. .f

iN 'ED STATES rasriroirmeKniTrINGnacHINE. 1,646,764. Y

" Patented De. 1o,1912.

Application inea August so', 1965. sen'ai Nol 276,371.

A ing on occupiesjwhat may be called -a zigzag lin'e; that is to sayit is connected with one of the needles 1, one of the needles 2 one of the needles 1 and so on. In this Way" a tubular 'fabric of'relatively large diameter may be fabricated in the same circle y[as a tubular fabric of relatively small diameter. 3, is theneedle cylinder externally 'provided ivitli a series ofparallel grooves in which work' the 'needleslj and provided on 1 -top with means for er1; 4-Wliicl1are `Iiiovable .pivotally as at 5 i andheld up to place as by means of an en- Y 4circling spring 6`v 'Within the needle cylin- "der 3`is acylinder-Trotated as' byi'means of receiving the'we'b holdya' gea-` vWheely 8.' "This cylinder 7 carries a -projectioni-S), iiliicli operates lthe iveb hold-" l cylinderr as "by .'-mans of a gearwheel 12.

Y:The cam`10, asivellas otliercams to bedescribed, are not necessarily V shownin the der 11, which. is rotated around the needle 4drawiiigs'jas 1n appropriate relation, but

is so ivell understand how they should be placed' in orderto Aproperly-time themoveinents. For I .c xample, the cam 11'() would occupy a place .on the portion ofthe needle :cylinder whichV Ilias been removed in vdrawing the section and Athis isdone for tlie sake of clearness in'illus-l tration. l Thecam 10 operates upon the bits ofthe needles1,'ivhich are properly retained in place by meanscf .theencircling spring v1111. Secured to the needle cylinder is a. coniings is accomplished through theintervention of a ring 14 shrunk or .otherwise sccured to the -ribsl which projectv from the needle cylinder 3.

15, is a. revoliible cam ring mounted so as to rotate upon =the conical ring 13 and shoivn as -of like conical form. A16,1sa pinion fordriving Vthe cani .ring 15; 'The cam 17 T operates uponjacks and .the cam 17 ,like the cam'-10,.is not neciessarily .illustrated -in its proper relative position, but is put intothe clined av ron-like portion 19 which is grooved u on its upper face for ytlie recep- :t'ion Qf-th'shanks o'ftheneedles 2 and of the :jacks -18v which work in the same grooves as the needles and vare superposed on` the needles. The needles/2 have spxjng bits which are-arranged to cooperate with the notched tails the-jacks 18. The lcarri 1 7 the ring 13works the 'jacks 18 -up and down inthe needle grooves of the apron-like portion 19 and.- when the; spring bits of the needles engage the jacks the latter carry the;

needles up and down,- but when .the spring bits do notenga-ge the grooves in the .tails 'of the jacks the needles remain down out of -,action. .20, is a thread carrier iand it is provided with a projection 21 for opening the latches of the needles 2.

. 23, are a -i'ow of presser bars of which ff-tliere is-one foreach of the needles 2. These that when a presser-bar 23is'pushed inwardl5 Ypresser bars 23v Worlt in grooves upon a pro- `iection for slielt` 24 arranged generally speaking vat right angles to the apron 19, so

it serves vto disengage -the corresponding 29 needle bit from its )ack and when the presser bar is' released itserves to permit the needle' bit to-engage its corresponding jack. The presser'bars 23 .are under control of a drum.

25 which is rotated at/ tlie proper times and A25 wliichjis-provided with projeetionsZGfor pushing in the presser bars' 23 `so as to/free" 'tlieneedles 2 fron'ithe jaclrslS.Vv Aslshv'vn VA the drum is made-'up 'cfa nunibeio'f disksv strung on a shaft and provided Witlr the projections 26.

The drum. is' turned by meansof pawl-and-ratchet connections actuated for example by means of a pawl bar 27 driven by means of a link 28 and eccenf tric 29 from some shaftfas. 30,'which also drives the gear 'wheeljSlthat turns the shaft Whichicarries the -piiiions 8, 12v-and 16, Two pawls 32 and 33 ar'e shown vas ai'- ranged upon'the'bar 27. I`gThe pawl 33 co- Y operates with .the loos e, ratchet 'wheel 341thatcarries a pattern chain 36, andthe pawl 32 coperates with ratchet wheels 35-and 3511.'

whereof one 35,'is attached 'to the drum and' whereof the other35a, .is ofilargerldiameter than the first, isloose and .is provided at intervals with comparatively vdeep ;teeth-,-so that the pawl drives only the large 'wheel' 35 for some time and' until it reachesa deep tooth, when it drives both Wheels for a short A distance so that the motionof the drum is notch into which projects apin fast to the4 driven shaft. At the completion of the Work.

it is desirable to modify the .actionzo'f the cam 17 and for this purpose a movable or .55 switch cam 38 is to be,shi;t'ted inward and' afterward outward. To. accomplish this the cam 38 is fitted with a head 39 and as itrotates this part 39 conies into contact with one o rtlie other of the ariiis 40 and 41 mounted upon a vertical movable post 42.

The position of this post in its socket 43 is coiitiolledjby a lever 44 having a link 45 which is operated upon 'by a cam 46 carriedl by the ratchet Wheel 35 or some part con- ..i iected`therewith. The cani 17 ,is a knitting cam and thethread guide is .properly positioned in respect to it.'` The switch cam 38 operates upon the. jacks 18, to depress them into position for the release of their needles prir to the receipt of thread so that the following cam 17 throw ofi their stitches and go out lof action. The switch cain 38 17, when the needles .2, are not in use.'

The mode of operation ofthe described vmachine may be explained as follows: The

presser bars 23 rest upon the high parts of of action and .this condition of affairs contimies while thel needles 1- are operated by the cani .10"in` the. ordinary Way so as to take thread from the threadvcarrier 20 and fabricate a tubularw-eb, forexample, the-ankle portion of a stocking, lVhen it is desirablel tofividen this tubular fabric so as t0, Vfor err.-V ampl`e, make it of the proper shape for the calf or leg portion'of a stocking the drum the needles at the center 'of the group of needles 2 is putinto action. In the present instance, one needle at 'the center of .the

group of needles 2 is put into action by the operation of the 16W part between the two high `parts `on the drum upon -the vcorrespending presser bar 23, asis shown in Fig.

needles having been cleared by the riser cam alsoshifts the jacks so that they clear cani the drum 25 so that-the needles 2 are out comes into such .position that one or more ofl 1.- When the described low part comes ofppositethe presser bar-'23 the 'latter' shi out-Ward and permits/'thc corresponding -needle bit to be engaged by its jack which brings the needle into action so-that ittakes thread This it. is permitted to do until it has taken, for example, one stitch, whereupcn thchigh part on the drum is shifted in such away as to cause the presser bar 23 to again frcethe needle bit from its ack. In consequence of this the' needle. remains down-out of action, holding a stitch upon it. Several courses of fabric -are then knit-r ted by means of the needles 1 whereupon the movement of the drum causes the high part to free the jack and thus the' needle bit A again engages its jack and comes back into action throwing olf the stitch which had formerly been placed upon it and whi'cli'it held while it was d own out of action. The pui. pcs-c of this is to obviatc formation of un.

.siglitly Aholes in the fabric. i rliliereafter this needle remains in action until the completiim of thejwidened portion of the tube. L

i put into action, are brought into action stitch for several courses, whereupon it or `V enthrCWin'g oil" the stitch previously placed 40- 1. A circular .knitting machine having 50 produce a seamless, tubular, plain web of 55 -and vat an' acute angle withthe needles of Upon the completionA of an 'appropriate number of courses needles of the'group 2 upon pposite sides of those ,that were' rst 5 the mannerdescribed. 4 To recapitulate for the sake of clear'ness,` one or Amore needles at. the 'center of the group of'needles 2, come into action, take a stitch, go down out of action and' hold that they is or are again brought into action kuponit 'or them.` After the completionof anappropriate number 'of courses, say ten or fifteen, one or more needles on `opposite sides f-these center needles are permitted to take astitch or stitches, tosthen godown out of action and hold this stitch or stitches until the completion 'of several-courses where-" 20 upon. they again go into action and this is'- repeated until all of the needles2 havebeen successively brought into action, whereuponA the widened-tube may be knitted 'toany desired length, f pon thecompletionof the' tube the switch cam 38 is Vbrought'. .i ntoacstion through 'the instrumentality y "ofi-the. parts connectedl with the' post 42 and 'tliel head 39. .The detent'f/H serves to prevent undesirable motions, of the head and' ,partsconnected therewith.

It will be `obviousto those'skilled in thart to which my invention appertains that modifications may be made Ain 'details Withil out '.departi'ng-y rom the spirit thereof, hence the prior state ofthe vart may. require,'but Having thus described the naturefand objects of my invention'fwhat.I claim'ls new and desire to secure by'v Letters Patent 'iscombinationa' 'cylinder vand anfinclinedapron-like portionfgrooved upon itsupper -face and Yexten ing part way aroundfthe cylinder, each equipped withv a. Aset of needles those-of one set being disposed at an acute angle' in respect'to those'of the-other set, whereby the knockin -over 'point of the two. sets of needles. are inA different circles,

and means for knitting upon said needleslto varying diameter. 2, A knitting machine provided- Withv a circular group of needles and `witha-second group of lneedles arrangedv intermediate of the first group and disposed operatively in.; a differentknocking-jover 'circle from the first mentioned needles, thehooks of all 'the 3. In Aa vknitting machine .thei combination calming applied to the needle cylinder and l. provided with inclined, needle grooves and a revoluble cam ring, needles arrangedin said bit of the needle projecting inclinedvgrooves, jacks-detachably connected rangedat an inclinatlon to the first men- 7.5

tioned needles and of a latch opening device' carried Aby the thread carrier and arranged to coperate with 'the last mentioned needles, substantially as described.

'5. A knitting machine having a needle 80 Vcylinder anditsneedles in combination with a group of needles arranged at an inclination to thefrst mentioned needles, jacks for actuating said group Tof needles, devices for disconnecting said jacks, and acm surface 85 for actuating'said devices, substantially as.

described.

-' 6. In a' knittingmach'ine th'ecombination of a circular"group of needles', an inclinedj group` of needles, -jacks detachably. connect 90 ed 'witn'fthe' last mentioned needles, devices for .detaching the jacks, anda drum pro- 'videdivi'tli'acani surface for o erating said` 'devices, substantially as descri ed.

7. vThecombinationi with. a cylindrical 95 knittingmachineof an inclined apron vhavlng needle groovesaild needles andzjacks and Aprovided vvv'ith grodves for the :reception .oflpresser bars, presser barsadaptedto-disf 35 .the Amvention- 1s not limited further 'than connectltlhe jacks, and a ca m surfaceforopvgthe presser bars',.substantially as .de-- scribed. '.v 8. The combination with 1-circular knittin machine- 0f an inclined apron provided- Wit grooves, jacks, needles arranged in said vgrooves andprovided with spring bits for detachably engaging the jacks, presser bars arranged to operate on thes ring bits, and

' 'cam'surfacesforA-operating t epresser bars,-Y

substantially as 'describedf 110 9.A The combinationin a circular knitting -machine of a circular group of needles and their actuating mechanism, a group-ofwiden.-- ing needlesfarranged intermediate ci and at an incllnatlon' to :the 'rst mentioned V115 v.needles 'and their -actuating mechanism,-

and devices for bringing the Widening needles progressively from the center tow 5 ward the edges of the Vgroup thereof into action `so as '-to receive va loop orloops, then 120 out voi' .action and finally into, faction, and means for putting-all the Widening needles vautomatically out of action, substantially as' needles b lng-arranged 1n the-same'd1recld 10. The combination ofl a member having 125 escribed.

a needle groove,v a spring bit f arranged Ain.

fthe gro'ove,' a ]a`cki arranged in` the same groove as and adapted t' ride on the needle i the ack, and me'ans arranged at the lflo stantially as described.

415'spect 'to those of the other set, and means in combination a cylinder and dial, each 25 seamless, -tubular,r plain web of varying di- 30 equipped-with aset o f needles, those of one $5 needles to produce a seamless, tubular web limit of the travel of the spring bit for comprelsing the spring bit to free it from the Jac 5 11. In combination a bed having needle grooves, spring bit' needles arranged in the grooves and separate jacks riding on the needles and of less length than the spring bits whereby the latter are accessible, sub- 12. A circular knitting machine having,

in combination a 'cylinder and dial, each zmeqpippedwitha setof needles, those of one set being disposed at an acute angle in refor'knitting uponsaicneedles to produce a seamless, tubular,l plain web of varying diameter.

13. A circular knittingzmachine having,4

equipped with a set of needles, those of lone set being disposed atan acute angle in. re. spcct to those of the-other set, and means for knitting upon said needles to produce af ame-ter, With heels and toes upon thejnarroiv .portions of said-Web. 1 "14. A circular knittingmachin'e hav-ing, incombination "'a cylinder fand dial, each set being disposed atf'anacute-an'glc in 're-. speet to those of theother set and'both vsets drawing' stitches tothe same facev of the\ web, i,and means" for knitting "up'onfsaid,

ot' varying diameters. Y` s n Y .15. A circular knit-ting machine `Ahaving,

in combination a cylinder-tand dial, each equipped with a'set ofneedles, those'oione` 4o set being disposed'at an acute a'nfrle in-rej spect to those ofthe other set .andbboth .sets

- drawing stitches to thesame faceof Vthe web,

and means for knittingfupoii said `needles to produce a seamless, tubularavjeb,- of varying diameter and for'knitting-upon needles of one set only to produce seamless 'ockets' 16. A circular knitting machine or prog ducingshaped v vebs, said machine having,

in combination, a cylinder and dial, -each equipped with a set of needles, thoseof one i set-being disposed atari acuteagigle in re' spect to thoseof the otherseL-and bothsets drawing stitches to the s'am'e face of theweb,

and means for knitting successively upon the narrow Webneedles andupon thelatter.

and the wide web needles" to produce, Lin each case, seamless, tubular web. 417. A circular knitting machine for producing. shaped Webs, said machine havin in combination, a cylinder and dial,eac

equipped with a set of needles, those of one set being disposed at an acute angle in re. spect to those of the other set, and both sets drawing stitches to the same-face-of the web,

diameter.

and means for knitting successively upon the narrow web needles and-'upon the latter -ducingshaped ivcbs, said machine having,

in combination, a cylinder and dial, each equipped with aset of needles, those ofone,

vset being disposed at' ana'cute angle in 're-l spect to those of the other set, and both sets drawing stitches to the same face of the web, and means for knitting successively upon-the narrow web needles' and upon the latter and a varying number of groups of lthe wide web needles to produce, in each case, a seam go less, tubular'we'b. 19. A'cireular knitting machine for producing shaped webs, said machine having,. in combination, a cylinder and dial, each` equippedwith a'set ofneedles, those of one 85 set being disposed at an acute anglein re- A lspeel; to` those of the ot-herset, and both sets jdiawing. stitches to the same face of the web, and means for knitting successively upon .the

nari-ouf Webgneedles and u'pon the latter and T90 .a progressiyely increasing number of ividenl' i oproduce, 1n each case, a seam.

15.20. circula-r knitting .machine for prolducing.shapedgivebs, said-machine having, g5 in. 'coml )in: 1tion',`A a .cylinder and dial, .-ea'ch equippedwith a set'oi needles, those of one set. being' disposed atan acute angle in re spcct to these ofthe other set, andiboth sets" f d'raivingjgl stitches to the same face of the .weh-100 and vmeans for knittingl successively upon the narrow web needles and .upon the latterand a-'progressively increasing number of groups of videninganeedles. to produce, 1n each case, a-seamless-tnbular web.'A l 105 A 21.. AV .circular knitting machine. having;

- in`,coi nbination, .a` cylinder and dial, each Y 4equipped'with a setof needles, those of one 'setf being disposed at an acutegangle in ref spect to those ofthe other setand bothV sets drawing stitches to thev same face of the web,

and means` forlknitting upon' the cylinder needles to pi'od'uce'seamless, tubular` webof relatively small', diarneter, and simultane- Y. ous'ly fupon' both'cylinder andj dia1'i1eedles`- 11'5 to producefseamles's, tubular vvebof 'greatercircularlmitting machine having, in combination, a-cylinderand-dial, each equipped with a-set ofneedles, those of one 12,0 i

-set being disposed at an acuteangle in respect to those of the other set, and'both sets4 drawing stitches to the same face oftheweb,

and means for knitting -upon the cylinder needles tovprodnce seamless, tubular web of relatively small diameter, and simultaneously upon said cylinder `needles and'lupon a .varying number of the dial needles to pro- -duce seamless, tubular `web of greater ,du

ameter. Y

lv I 23. A circular knitting machine havlng, 4in combination a cylinder and dial, `each equipped with a set of needles, those of one set being disposed at an acute angle in respect to those of the other set, and both sets drawing stitches to the same face of the web, means for putting into action a pro,

gressively increasing number of dial needles, and means for knitting upon the cylinder needles to produce seamless, tubular web oi:

ing number of groups of dial needles, and` means for knitting upon the cylinder needles vto produce seamless, tubular web of relatively small diameter and simultaneously upon said cylinder needles and upon the varying number of groups of the dial needles to produce seamless, greater diameter.. Y

A circular knitting machine having, in combination, a cylinder and'dial, each equipped with a set of needles, those o f one set being disposed at' an acute angle in respect to those ot the other set, and both sets drawing stitches to the same face of the web, means Jfor putting into action successia/'ely introduced groups ot' dial needles, and means for knitting upon the -cylinder needles to produce seamless, tubular web of relatively small diameter and simultaneously upon said cylinder needles and upon the successively introduced groups of the dial needles to produce seamless, tubular web otf progressively increasing diameter.

,26. A circular knitting machine having,

tubular web of in combination, a cylinder and dial, each equipped with a set of needles, those of one set being disposed at an acute angle in respect to those of the other set, and both sets drawing stitches to the saine face of the web, a yarn guide, cams for actuating the needles to cause them to knit, and means for operating needles of one set.4 to place them under or out of control of their knitting cams,

27. A circular knitting machine having,

'in combination, a cylinder and dial, each equipped with a set of needles those of one set being disposed at an acute angle in respect to those of the other set, and both sets drawing stitchesI to the same face of the web, a yarn guide, cams torv actuating the needles to cause them to knit, and means for operating needles of one set in groups to place them under or out ot' control of their v knitting cams.

QS. A circular knitting machinehaving, in combination, a cylinder and dial, each .equipped with a set of needles those ot' one,

setI being disposed at an acute angle in re spect to those olz the other set, and both sets drawing stitches to the same face of the web, andmeans for knitting upon said nee-- dles to produce a shaped, seamless, tubular web, the needle-actuating devices being so disposed thaty the narrow web needles do not draw stitches in advance of the wide web needles.

QS). A circular knitting machine having a cylinder provided with needles, and a dial likewise provided with needles disposed to draw stitches to the same tace ot' the fabric as the cylinder neei'lles and occupying an acute angle in respect thereto, said dial needles having a bearing below thi` top of the cylinder but being tree from contact With said cylinder al the top.

' EMIL J. FRANCK.

Witnesses:

\V. J. JacitsoN, K. M. Gn moan. 

